Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Wexford Youths -v- Longford Town
- Deniese O'Flaherty
- Thu, Aug 18 2011
Wexford Youths will be hoping to pick up their first points of the season against Longford Town when they entertain the Midlanders at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night (kick-off 8pm).
The Town have picked up maximum points in the two previous meetings this season and over the last number of years have a decent record down in the South-East. It’s at home in Flancare Park where they struggle against Youths.
Youths will want to build on last weekend’s fantastic result away in Cork where they came from behind to claim a dramatic 2-2 draw right at the end. They will be looking to claim back to back points for the first time this season when they take on the Town.
Manager Noel O’Connor is hoping for a bit of consistency from his side after that result against City. “The performance last week was great. The biggest issue this club has is the consistency, with so many young players in this group you’re going to see that as well. They are aware of it and we have spoken about stitching a couple of back to back games. One of our goals between now and the end of the season will be take some points off every team, there are a lot of teams that we haven’t taken any points off, Longford would be one of them and we will be looking to get something on Friday night” he told Wexfordyouthsfc.ie.
O’Connor has a full-strength squad to choose from for this game. Shane Nolan is an injury doubt but should be available for selection.
It’s a different story for Town manager Tony Cousins who has a few injury problems ahead of the game. Niall O’Reilly and Keith Gillespie are out while he has doubts over his strike force of Don Cowan and Austin Skelly; Cowan hasn’t trained all week due to his troublesome groin and Skelly has a throat infection.
Last weekend the Town fell to a 3-1 defeat at home to leaders Shelbourne. It was their second defeat on a trot after losing by the same scoreline to Cork City just before the break. They will hope to get back to winning ways against Youths but Cousins knows Noel O’Connor’s men will provide stiff opposition. “They got a good result the other night in Cork and will be hard to beat. The Shels defeat was disappointing for us but the most important thing for me is that we learn from our mistakes. We just need to keep progressing. If we can finish 5th or 6th it’ll be a very good season,” he added.
Wexford Youths
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Shane Nolan.
Suspended: None.
Longford Town
Injured: Niall O’Reilly, Keith Gillespie.
Doubtful: Don Cowan, Austin Skelly.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork)
Paddy Power Odds: Home 10/3 Draw 12/5 Away 8/11
Extratime prediction: Longford Town to sneak a win.
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